Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Department (HIM) is responsible for identifying new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions, and communicating public health information to technical partners.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:
1-Carry out all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to event-based surveillance; verification and risk assessment; monitoring; and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern, in line with the operational requirements of IHR2005.
2-Contribute to the improvement of communicating acute public health events and emergencies, with emphasis on developing structure, plan and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for automation of the information from the different sources of information for the weekly bulletin and other information products related to acute public health events and emergencies.
3-Coach relevant staff ensuring high-quality data collection and analysis and the linkage to the Weekly Bulletin format.
4-Initiate the pilot phase of the automation plan, including its monitoring and evaluation.
5-Act as liaison officer between the Public Health Intelligence team in EMRO and the Berlin hub in regard to the automation project.
6-Organize quarterly calls to update WSE division in Berlin on the update of the project.
7-Coordinate with the other regional teams to regularly share updates disseminate information, documents and guidelines on best practices and coordinated efforts pertaining to the various technical activities.
8-Provide technical guidance to teams in other regions to adopt or implement the technical solutions developed.
9-Technically contribute to the annual reporting requirements of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
10-Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in in a relevant field (such as medicine, epidemiology, public health, or related field from a recognized institution).
Desirable: Post graduate degree or training in epidemiology, public health.
Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health or related discipline from a recognized university.
Specialized training in field epidemiology programmes (FELTP/FETP)
The European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET),
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Programme, or equivalent.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of five years’ experience with international exposure and successful track record in epidemiology, public health, outbreak investigation or emergency response field programmes.
Experience of working with event-based surveillance data and conducting risk assessments.
Desirable: Experience in WHO or within the United Nations system with an understanding of its mandate, goals, and procedures.
Experience in the areas of outbreak investigation and response for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries.
Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained at an international level.
Experience of working with detection and monitoring of public health events and risk assessment and in developing technical documents.

Skills

Essential:
Knowledge of WHO processes of verification, alert and response operations.
Demonstrated knowledge of epidemiology, quantitative methods and surveillance in the area of emerging and re-emerging diseases in a multi-disciplinary ad cross-cutting environment.
Excellent presentation and communication skills, with emphasis on writing skills.
Sound analytical and organizational skills.

Desirable:
Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements.
Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations.
Tact, diplomacy and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of R software, Power BI and/or progamme languages.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1608 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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